Modifications to Role of National Labor Relations Board's Administrative Law Judges Including: Assignment of Administrative Law Judges as Settlement Judges; Discretion of Administrative Law Judges to Dispense With Briefs, To Hear Oral Argument in Lieu of Briefs, and To Issue Bench Decisions

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The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issues a document that it will begin a one-year experimental modification of its rules with respect to the role that its Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) play in facilitating the expeditious resolution of unfair labor practice proceedings. During the experimental period, the NLRB will amend its rules to give the Chief Administrative Law Judge discretion to assign a judge other than the trial judge to conduct settlement negotiations with the parties, and to give the settlement judge certain powers necessary to engage effectively in those settlement efforts. The NLRB will also, during the experimental period, modify its rules to give ALJs assigned to hear a case the discretion to dispense with briefs, to hear oral argument in lieu of briefs, and to issue bench decisions. The rule changes will expire at the end of the one-year experimental period absent renewal by the Board.